The benefits of ballet!

I work for a local weekly newspaper as a staff photographer, so I get to photograph something new every day. Today it was the grand opening of a dance studio in their new location. I shot the ribbon cutting, some lunch activity, and stayed to shoot an intermediate (but open to all levels) ballet class.

Since the class was all "intermediate" students and ages mixed together - as with pole, intermediate means very different things depending on which studio or classes you go to - the instructor gave them very basic advice about engaging the proper muscles, foot placement, posture, etc. It was such an incredible learning experience for me!

I don't come from a dance background, unless you count jazz/tap classes when I was 5 years old. I took some gymnastics, from about 5 or 6 years old through 5th grade. Beyond that I don't have many skills I can apply to pole. I'm really learning it all right now!

So I listened closely as this instructor (who was awesome, by the way, Italian with a mohawk and just gorgeous) explained how to engage the core, draw in the ribcage, tuck the hips, breathe into the shoulders, lift the chin... just basic ballet technique. I learned so much in a one-hour class that I can apply to my own dancing!

Sometimes I feel like pole should be a more structured dance. Perhaps more focus on posture and mechanics, as in ballet, would help students improve. I do love the looseness of pole. I love the sensuality and creativity. The focus on individual expression. But when I work with instructors who have a ballet background I learn to perfect the moves in a whole new way.

For example, split grip. I used to grip like so:



And one of our instructors, Faith, explained to me that simply pointing my index finger down toward the floor whenever I use split grip will, for one, center any move and help stabilize me, and for two, stop the soreness in my inner forearm afterward. One little change made all the difference!

At least for me, I have a tendency to get sloppy. I don't extend far enough or open wide enough. My descending angels (scorpios) don't dazzle like Felix's moves. And when I compare, often it's just a matter of keeping my shoulders down and back. Extending the leg with locked joints. Arching deeply. Things I'm sure she learned from her years in dance. Simple changes!

So today, I really enjoyed watching this dancer teach. Her focused, straightforward, passionate instruction gave me some basic techniques to apply to my own dance. It made me consider sitting in on other types of dance classes too!

Here's Faith, one of our instructors, at a performance. She has an extensive dance background, so I always go to her for technical questions. I love the precision and control in her moves. She isn't as fluid on the pole as some of our other instructors, but her dancing is technically spectacular and each move is very defined. I'm hoping I can learn that kind of control!